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From racing to falconry - how remarkable equine retirees at Dartmoor Hawking are proving their talents with talons

Martin and Philippa Whitley are flying the flag for retrained racehorses with their unique horseback falconry experiences

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by Athwenna Irons

11:12, 30 Oct 2017

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Couple Martin and Philippa Whitley, founders of Dartmoor Hawking, offer experienced riders the opportunity to put their horsemanship skills and nerve to the ultimate test - by flying Artemis the golden eagle from one of their retrained racehorses

I highly doubt there are many horses out there who would happily allow a peregrine falcon to perch between their ears, or nuzzle adoringly into the feathers of a mighty golden eagle – one of the world’s most accomplished predators. It is safe to say that Myladtommy is truly one of a kind.

Best make that four of a kind, as this literally unflappable bay gelding forms part of a remarkable and unique team of “recycled” racehorses at Dartmoor Hawking, run by Martin and Philippa Whitley.

From their base at North Bovey, in the shadow of their immensely grand neighbours Bovey Castle Hotel, the couple are offering experienced riders the opportunity to really put their horsemanship – and nerve – to the ultimate test, by mastering the ancient art of horseback falconry.

Historically seen in the wilds of Western Mongolia, practiced for thousands of years by the nomadic Kazakh people, you would be extremely hard-pressed to find anybody else on British shores doing what Martin and Philippa are doing right here in the Westcountry – let alone doing it from the backs of former racehorses.

“As far as we know, there’s nobody else in the country teaching falconry from horses or flying an eagle from a horse,” says Martin, who is master of the Dartmoor Falcons, one of only two organised mounted falconry groups in the country. He adds proudly: “The only ex-racehorses doing falconry are stood around you at this very moment.”

Now, you would be forgiven for thinking that combining a genetically-programmed flight animal with the ultimate airborne predator is a match made in hell. Add a highly-strung thoroughbred into the mix, and you are surely cooking up a recipe for disaster.

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At Dartmoor Hawking, which first took flight in 2001, this is so far from the truth that it may as well be in a completely different universe.

Having both spent many years riding and working with thoroughbreds, Martin and Philippa’s bubbling passion for the breed is infectious. “Despite their reputation, they have the most fantastic temperaments,” explains Martin. “The reason we like thoroughbreds is because they are quick on their feet and are very good at speed work across the varied terrain of Dartmoor. If you’re doing serious falconry, you’re working with a bird in flight which can be clocking up to 50 or 60mph for starters. It’s very, very fast so you need a good, quick horse who can do the job, and the thoroughbreds suit this really well.”

The couple are keen supporters of the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) charity, and donate 10% of what they make from their horseback falconry sessions and displays – which this year have been seen at the Liskeard Show, RoR South West Summer Camp and Game Fair in Warwickshire – towards the RoR’s work in promoting the versatility of these former equine athletes. Martin adds: “One of the things we are trying to make a big fuss of is ‘look what you can do with ex-racehorses’.

Athwenna Irons, equestrian editor at the Western Morning News, flies golden eagle Artemis from ex-racehorse Myladtommy during a recent visit to Dartmoor Hawking

“I think the RoR does an absolutely fantastic job with their showing series, but they can do so much more than just trot in pretty circles.”

My mount for the day, former chaser and point-to-pointer Myladtommy, honestly was incredible. While on first impressions he may look a little gormless, delve deeper and he is far from your average dobbin. A grandson of the 1970 Epsom Derby winner Nijinsky, he sports quite the pedigree, and as a holder of nine races in his own right – Tommy was a force to be reckoned with out on the track.

“Tommy turned up here in May last year, after six months in the field, and within half an hour we had a golden eagle on board,” says Martin of the ten-year-old gelding, who came up from Cornwall to join the team. “Tommy just did falconry. We’ve never trained him to be a falconry horse, he does all our teaching work and he’s just absolutely fantastic.”

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During my session with Martin, I was totally blown away by just how at ease Tommy was with the birds, which gradually increased in size and weight from the petite peregrine falcon, Dawn, to ferruginous hawk Charlie, before rounding off with Artemis, a breath-taking golden eagle. Weighing in at 12lb and boasting a huge seven-foot wingspan, it really is quite a feeling to be in control of such an impressive creature. And despite being in a wide open field on a horse I had never ridden before, I immediately felt comfortable in looping the reins over my one free arm to release Artemis on her quest for prey.

Individual and two-rider sessions with Martin, a hugely experienced falconer in his own right, are available for visitors to Dartmoor Hawking. The day starts with an introduction to the birds of prey and handling lessons to make sure you can carry a hawk correctly. This is followed by lunch at the luxury Bovey Castle Hotel, before spending the afternoon working with the hawks and horses together – with the aim to get guests flying an eagle by the end of the session. Martin and Philippa have welcomed clients from all over the country and as far afield as America and Japan to try their hand at being eagle handlers.

Also part of the couple’s awesome foursome of recycled racehorses is the very well-bred Weaam, an eight-year-old gelding by Shamardal.

Martin Whitley and Weaam giving a demonstration at the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) South West Summer Camp in Somerset earlier this year (Image: BLM Photography)

“He’s a gentle little soul and has taken to falconry really well,” says Martin, who is also resident falconer at Bovey Castle Hotel and runs daily falconry displays there. “Within only 10 to 12 weeks of being with us he was doing main ring displays.”

Completing the line-up are former Godolphin stable-mates Shubaat and Caymans, with the latter of these two most-recent arrivals particularly thriving in their new line of work, after coming to Dartmoor from Godolphin Rehoming in Newmarket. Despite only having one eye, Caymans has already exceeded Martin and Philippa’s expectations. “He is an absolute joy to ride,” says Martin of the 12-year-old gelding, who raced in Australia, Dubai and Britain before retiring in 2011. “He is beautifully schooled, so much so that you can ride him on a little finger. Bird-wise he is proving to be just fantastic and will be doing a lot of our big displays in future.”

Ten-year-old Shubaat, who won six times on the flat and over jumps during his career, is also showing great progress in becoming a fully-fledged falconry horse. “Shubaat is very much what I would call an ‘action man’,” adds Philippa. “He doesn’t want to be doing dressage, he wants to be out doing a proper job like falconry. He’s an absolute gentleman and armchair ride, who will also make a lovely Dartmoor hunter.”

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As I find out, the journey from ex-racer to falconry horse is by no means simply a case of hopping on board and being handed a hawk. As Martin explains, their basic set-up programme is around three months – with horses and birds residing in neighbouring stables to aid the introduction process.

“In working with ex-racehorses, you’re working with something which is genetically bred to act on their natural flight instinct and think like the ultimate prey species,” says Martin, “…and then we’re asking the horses to go and carry a bird which smells like it wants to eat them.”

Initially building tolerance levels is key, he explains, with paddle-leather lures – complete with bells or crow wings – being swung around the horse’s heads to get them used to the flapping sensation. If all goes well here then a bird is introduced, bringing it gradually closer and closer to the horse.

Riders coming to Dartmoor Hawking will be introduced to Charlie, the ferruginous hawk, during their horseback falconry session

Progressing to the first time on board, Martin will be passed up a hooded falcon. “If the bird has a hood on, there’s nothing happening in that bird’s world, so there’s very minimal flapping,” he explains. “We can unbalance the bird to get it to flap a bit, but we have really got control of the movement. If the horse is happy with that, we’ll learn forward gently to get it flapping around the face.”

Horses are then introduced to Charlie, the ferruginous hawk. “He’s quite happy to fly up to me while on a horse and is very easy-going,” says Martin. “What I try and do first of all is call Charlie in from behind with my arm right outstretched and the horse’s head slightly angled, so they can see him coming.

“This goes on until the horse is completely happy to have a hawk flying over its head. And if that all goes smoothly then we’ll get Artemis on board to see how happy they are with her. From there its short steps until they are able to have Artemis flying right over the top of their heads.”

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He goes on to add: “It’s one of the great joys of my job, bringing on a new horse as they go from nervous to being able to accept and enjoy working with a range of falcons and eagles.”

While working with ex-racehorses can be incredibly rewarding, it can also sadly bring heartbreak, as Martin reflects: “I had to have both of my original falconry thoroughbreds, William Percival and Major Buck, put to sleep as old racing injuries that were beyond repair re-surfaced – unfortunately there’s only so many times that you can patch up a horse. But I look at the fact that they had a fantastic life with me and achieved things that very few horses in the world will ever do.”

What Martin and Philippa have been able to achieve with these magnificent animals – both equine and avian – is certainly something pretty special. Something that makes a visit to Dartmoor Hawking a truly unforgettable experience.

For more information visit the website www.dartmoorhawking.co.uk or find Dartmoor Hawking and Recycled Racehorse Falconry Team on Facebook